Test Results

We do not contact every patient with the result of each test.

Unless there is a reason for the doctor to contact you, your GP will ask for the result to be filed in your electronic notes.

Our reception and administration staff are not qualified to interpret results and will only tell you the information authorised by the doctor. If you wish to discuss your result in detail, you will need to speak to a practice nurse or your GP.

Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to, unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.

On-line access to your records

You can have on-line access to your detailed coded medical records and this enables you to view your test results. Just ask reception to set you up and they will give you a login and password.

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health

confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection

see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm, with the usual place for a sample being the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand my be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.